Thrashing-machine



(No Model.)`

D. MORRIS 8L H. COFFEE.

., `'Ihrasfahinggg Machine. 10.240.532. i Y Patented April 26,1881.

UNITEDl 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID MORRIS AND HENRY COFFEE, OF BUNKER HILL, ILLINOIS.

THRAsHlNe-MAGHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,532, dated April 26, 1881.

Application filed December 16, 1880. (No model.)

To all 'whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that we, DAvm Monats and HENRY COFFEE, both of Bunker Hill, in the county of Macoupin and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Thrashing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

Our improvement relates to the construction and operation of reciprocating upright forks, which operate on the straw above the vibrating pan or pans of a thrashing-machine.

Our improvement consists in mounting the forks upon a rotating compound crank-shaft and connecting their upper ends by means of links to the frame of the machine, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

In order that our invention may be fully understood, we will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a portion of a thrashing-machine having our improvement applied. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same.` Fig. 3 is a view through line m x, Fig. 1, looking toward the front of the machine.

A is the case, B the vibrating pan, C the cylinder, D the concave, Ethe beater, and F the hanging board, of a thrashing-machine, all of which are of common construction, and

need no further description in connection with our invention.

G is a shaft having suitable bearings in the case of the machine, and constructed with two cranks, H H, projecting in opposite directions. Thc shaft is furnished with a driving'- pulley, I.

J J are upright forks mounted,` by their armsjj, upon the pins h h of the cranks H H of the shaft G. The forks J preferably have three prongs each, as shown in the drawings, but they may, of course, have more or less. The arms of the forks are divided lengthwise for the reception of links or hangers K K, which are connected in either one of a series of holes, k k, in the upper ends thereof. The links or hangers are hinged to plates or brackets L L at the top of the machine case or body A, and are of sufficient length to allow the turning of the shaft.

The' object of our device is to loosen up the 4operation of our device is as follows: The

shaft G being rotated, it imparts, in connection with the links, a compound horizontal and vertical reciprocating movement to the forks, as follows: The' movement of the forks is first in a downward direction, then backward, then upward, and then forward. Thus as the straw comes upon the vibrating pangfrom beneath it is caught by the forks in their backward and downward movement and tossed backward and upward by them in their backward and upward movement. Bythis means the grain is elfectually separated from the straw and allowed to pass through the screen at the rear ofthe pan. i

It will be observed that the movement limparted to the hooks causes their points lo 4d escribe a semi-elliptical path, the outer or delivery end being' inclined upwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l. l.

The prongs of the forks being curved instead of straight spikes, they will he found more eectual in tossing up and thoroughly loosening the straw, especially when combined, as in the present case, with a vibrating pan or pans. Y

Having thus described our invention, the following is what we claim vas new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent: l

l. 1n a thrashingmachine. the combination, with a vibrating pan or paus, of the upright forks J J, constructed with arms jj, compound crankshaft and pins Gr H h, and links L L, hinged above and in rear of the said shaft,and to the upper ends of the said arms,.and the said arms mounted on the said pins, the whole arranged so as to give a compound horizontal and vertical reciprocating motion to the said forks, the points of the said forks describing a semi-elliptical path, as set forth.

2. The forks J J, having divided arms jj, provided with holes 7c 7c, and hinged links K K, in combination with compound crank-shaft G H h, and a vibrating pan or pans, as. set forth.

DAVID MORRIS. HENRY COFFEE. Witnesses:

C. E. NoRoor'r, F. BUMANN. 

